Effervescent cleaning system and method for cleaning jewelry, retainers and other objects

Abstract

Systems and methods for harnessing bubbles generated by an effervescent cleaning tablet, to better clean an object (e.g., jewelry, straw, retainer, dental or orthodontic tray, mouth guard, denture, etc.). The system may include a housing including first and second housing portions, each defining a respective cavity. The first housing portion may be configured to hold the cleaning tablet, while the second cavity may hold or at least attach to the object being cleaned (e.g., hold a ring or other piece of jewelry, a retainer, orthodontic or dental tray, mouth guard, denture, etc.). In the case of a reusable straw, the straw may attach over the second housing cavity. In any case, the bubbles generated by the tablet are forced to flow over the object or surface to be cleaned. Such forced pathway of the bubbles causes them to impart mechanical/kinetic cleansing action to the surface of the object being cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning system comprising:
 a first housing portion defining a first chamber having a volume for receiving an effervescent source which generates bubbles when immersed in water, the first housing portion comprising a fluid conducting inlet on a chamber wall, and a fluid outlet; and   a second housing portion defining a second chamber having an inlet and an exit, the inlet being in fluid communication with the first chamber outlet, the inlet and first chamber outlet comprising a unified structure when the first and second housing portions are coupled to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second housing portion comprises a delivery pathway for capturing, concentrating, and channeling effervescent bubbles generated by the effervescent source. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second housing portion defining the second chamber additionally comprises a hinge or latch for opening the second chamber or selectively uncoupling the second chamber from the first chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second chamber additionally comprises a cavity, wherein:
 the cavity comprises a shape for receiving an object to be cleaned; and   the inlet and exit are arranged to direct fluid and effervescent bubbles from the inlet across the cavity to the exit.   
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second chamber comprises an opening for attachment to and fluid communication with a straw to be cleaned. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion defining the first chamber comprises a perforated bottom wall to allow intake of water into the first chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second housing portions are made of a material having a density greater than water, so that the device does not float in water, allowing the chambers to remain underwater during use. 
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are physically divided by a perforated divider, preventing a solid effervescent source from moving into the second chamber while allowing generated effervescent bubbles to freely pass from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the effervescent source is a solid tablet. 
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is used to clean a ring or other piece of jewelry. 
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is used to clean a reusable straw. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is used to clean a dental or orthodontic retainer, a dental or orthodontic tray, a mouth guard, or a denture. 
     
     
         13 . A cleaning system comprising:
 a first housing portion defining a first chamber having a volume for receiving an effervescent tablet which generates bubbles when immersed in water, the first housing portion comprising a fluid conducting inlet on a chamber wall, and a fluid outlet; and   a second housing portion defining a second chamber having an inlet and an exit, the inlet being in fluid communication with the first chamber outlet, the inlet and first chamber outlet comprising a unified structure when the first and second housing portions are coupled to one another so as to define a concentrated delivery pathway for capturing, concentrating, and channeling effervescent bubbles generated by the effervescent source so that such bubbles generated in the first chamber are channeled into the second chamber, where they pass over and clean an object placed into the second chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 13 , wherein the first housing portion defining the first chamber comprises a perforated bottom wall to allow intake of water into the first chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second housing portions are made of a material having a density greater than water, so that the device does not float in water, allowing the chambers to remain underwater during use. 
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 13 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are physically divided by a perforated divider, preventing the effervescent tablet from moving into the second chamber while allowing generated effervescent bubbles to freely pass from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 13 , wherein the system is used to clean a ring or other piece of jewelry. 
     
     
         18 . The system as in  claim 13 , wherein the system is used to clean a dental or orthodontic retainer, a dental or orthodontic tray, a mouth guard, or a denture. 
     
     
         19 . A cleaning system comprising:
 a first housing portion defining a first chamber having a volume for receiving an effervescent tablet which generates bubbles when immersed in water, the first housing portion comprising a fluid conducting inlet on a chamber wall in the form of a perforated bottom wall that allows intake of water into the first chamber; and   a second housing portion defining a second chamber having an inlet and an exit, the inlet being in fluid communication with the first chamber outlet, the inlet and first chamber outlet comprising a unified structure when the first and second housing portions are coupled to one another so as to define a concentrated delivery pathway for capturing, concentrating, and channeling effervescent bubbles generated by the effervescent source so that such bubbles generated in the first chamber are channeled into the second chamber, where they pass over and clean an object placed into the second chamber;   wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are physically divided by a perforated divider, preventing the effervescent tablet from moving into the second chamber while allowing generated effervescent bubbles to freely pass from the first chamber to the second chamber, so as to pass over and clean the object placed into the second chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The system as in  claim 19 , wherein the object placed in the second chamber to be cleaned is a ring, another piece of jewelry, a dental or orthodontic retainer, a dental or orthodontic tray, a mouth guard, or a denture.